PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Enterprising batting from Jonathan Carter and Dale Richards trumped a hard-hitting innings from Danza Hyatt to lead Barbados into the Grand Final of the Caribbean Twenty20 Championship, following a six-wicket victory over Jamaica on Friday.

Hyatt clobbered three fours and eight sixes in 89 from 49 balls to anchor Jamaica to 153 for nine from their allocation of 20 overs, after they chose to bat in the second semi-final under the lights on a hard, true Queen’s Park Oval pitch.

But left-hander Carter struck two fours and three sixes in 54 from 42, and West Indies opener Richards smote seven fours and one six in 40 off 20 balls, as Barbados reached their target with seven balls to spare.

Barbados captain Ryan Hinds formalised the result, when he lofted Dave Bernard Jr to long-off for his only boundary.
The outcome meant that the Barbadians were to  face old rivals Guyana in the Grand Final last night at the same venue from 20:30 h (East Caribbean Time)

In the first semi-final, Royston Crandon had snared three wickets in the final over, as Guyana withstood a late onslaught from Dwayne Bravo to reach the Grand Final, with a stunning four-run victory over T&T, much to the chagrin of a crowd officially estimated at 12 600.
Many of those spectators had long departed, when Richards launched Barbados’ chase in flourishing style with strokes in every direction.
When he was stumped off Nikita Miller, Barbados still required 97 from the remaining 83 balls, and Carter put on 66 with Alcindo Holder to put their side firmly on course for victory.

Krishmar Santokie had Holder caught at mid wicket for 12, and bowled Carter from successive balls in the 16th over to leave Barbados 123 for four.
The left-arm fast bowler finished with two wickets for 13 runs from his allotment of four overs to increase his aggregate of wickets for the competition to 10 at 7.80 apiece, which makes him the leading bowler.

Dwayne Smith joined Hinds, and they navigated Barbados across the threshold, mixing sound defence, with hard running, and flashy stroke-play.
Earlier, Hyatt flashed his blade with aplomb, and was so dominant that no other Jamaican reached 20.

He shared valuable stands of 30 with Marlon Samuels, 55 with Carlton Baugh Jr, and 41 with Andre Russell to add beef to Jamaica’s total.
Hyatt was eventually caught at long-off with nine balls remaining in the Jamaica innings to become the first wicket for regional newcomer Larry Babb, who replaced Ashley Nurse in the attack, after the off-spinner delivered two high full-tosses, and was suspended from bowling.
Babb and West Indies left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn ended with two wickets apiece.

JAMAICA innings (20 overs maximum)
X. Marshall b Smith    9
C. Gayle c Carter b Searles    1
M. Samuels lbw b Hinds    15
D. Hyatt c Searles b Babb    89
C. Baugh b Nurse    11
A. Russell b Benn    16
W. Hinds c Richards b Babb    0
D. Bernard not out    1
T. Lambert b Benn    0
K. Santokie run-out    1
Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-3, nb-3)    10
Total: (9 wkts, 20 overs)    153
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-16, 3-46, 4-101, 5-142, 6-145, 7-152, 8-152, 9-153.
Bowling: Searles 3-0-35-1 (w-1), Benn 4-0-33-2, Smith 4-0-20-1 (w-2), Hinds 4-0-11-1, Nurse 3.2-0-33-1, Babb 1.4-0-17-2.
BARBADOS (target: 154 off 20 overs)
D. Richards stp. Baugh b Miller    40
K. Edwards c (sub.) Parchment b Bernard    2
J. Carter b Santokie    54
A. Holder c Marshall b Santokie    12
R. Hinds not out    13
D.R. Smith not out    17
Extras: (lb-6, w-2, nb-8)    16
Total: (4 wkts, 18.5 overs)    154
Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-57, 3-123, 4-123.
Bowling: Bernard 3.5-0-26-1 (nb-3), Russell 3-0-43-0 (nb-5), Gayle 3-0-24-0 (w-1), Lambert 1-0-18-0 (w-1), Miller 4-1-24-1, Santokie 4-0-13-2.